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Well, then, you're wasting your time with me," said Ensenat. "My goose is cooked."
    " Your goose is cooked more thoroughly than you suspect," said Malet. "Dracquet left you right before I came-"
    Ensenat made a convulsive motion.
    Malet's smile widened. "I saw his face," he said. "Whatever he said to you wasn't pleasant. I am sure he told you you're on your own, that you'd get no support from him. Isn't it time to cut your losses?"
    " I don't understand you," said Ensenat.
    " I think you do," said Malet. He folded his arms and looked Ensenat over. "Let us be blunt," he said calmly. "I know who and what you are. I know your connections, and I know how you work. You know me, and you know I have been after you and yours for years. I have been stymied before, but it's your bad luck that I am acting Prefect at the moment. Here I am, and my hands aren't tied now, and your people have cast you off. Can you fight me, all alone as you are?"
    " I have nothing to gain," said Ensenat, "Fight or not. I am a dead man-"
    " Maybe not," said Malet, studying his fingernails.
    " What?"
    " You weren't implicated in the murder. I checked your actions during that engagement and on all the previous nights' murders. It's possible you aren't implicated. And it's possible I may-mind you I said may! not be able to hold you. And you may be able to cooperate with me."
    Ensenat closed his eyes and held them so for a long moment. "All right," he said with an effort. "Caught between a tiger and a viper, I choose the tiger. I will talk to you, but I will need something from you. An assurance-"
    Malet's brows drew together, but he made no comment.
    "My life's worthless if Dracquet thinks I am going to rat on him!" Ensenat burst out. "I have got to get clean out of here!"
    " What did you have in mind?" Malet asked.
    Ensenat looked up, caught his expression, and exclaimed, "Damn you! This is leading right where you wanted it-"
    Malet merely lifted his eyebrows.
    Ensenat drew a shaking breath. "America," he said. "I could go there and never be found. I could change my name and start again and never have to worry that he was catching up with me."
    " America," Malet said thoughtfully.
    " That's right. France is too hot for me, and Dracquet wouldn't want to let things slide, especially now that he's involved-" he broke off.
    Malet looked up from contemplating his watch. "'Now that he's involved-' in what?" he said.
    Ensenat smiled and shook his head. "Oh no," he said. "No, Inspector, I will hold my peace. It's my safeguard against you reneging."
    Malet's gaze fixed and narrowed. "You're very bold.  There's nothing to keep me from getting up and leaving you to your fate."
    " Oh no, Malet," Ensenat said. "What'll stop you is your own greed. You have wanted Dracquet so long, you're like to choke. And now that you have him close to hand, you won't let him go. I know!"             
    Malet considered and then nodded. "All right," he said. "What's your price?"
    " Come back when you can promise me safe passage to America and thirty thousand francs to see me established. We'll talk then."
    Malet rose. "I will see what I can do," he said at the door.
    " Tell them to cut me loose when you get outside," said Ensenat.
    Malet nodded. "I will have you moved somewhere safer."
    " I will be fine here," said Ensenat. "Just get me what I want. Be fast about it."

IV
     
    DEATH OF A RAT
     
    " Fifteen hundred Louis and passage free and clear to America? Informers are getting expensive. Will he be worth it?" The Minister of Police, Christien de la Haye, Count d'Anglars, sat back in his chair, steepled his impeccably manicured hands before him and watched the acting Police Prefect of Paris as he paced from the window to his chair and back again.
    " I think so," said Malet over his shoulder. He gazed unseeingly over the courtyard of the Count's house, turned after a moment, and paced back to his chair.
    D'Anglars sighed and sat back. "My dear Malet," he said, "I would find it